Breast Cancer Therapy Edmonton AB

Advancements in breast cancer treatments mean more Canadian women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. But new research has found that many women may be compromising their health by not taking their breast cancer treatment correctly, or stopping it all together before the full five-year course of therapy is completed.

Breast Cancer Therapy

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(NC)-Advancements in breast cancer treatments mean more Canadian women are surviving breast cancer than ever before. But new research has found that many women may be compromising their health by not taking their breast cancer treatment correctly, or stopping it all together before the full five-year course of therapy is completed.

A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that approximately one in four women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer stopped taking their anti-estrogen treatment during the first year, and after three years nearly half discontinued their therapy.

Dr. Susan Dent, a medical oncologist at the Ottawa Hospital Regional Cancer Center has done her own research in this field and is concerned.

"It is very important that women continue to take their breast cancer medication as prescribed. If they stop early, they may decrease the effectiveness of the treatment, which can negatively affect long-term health," says Dr. Dent. "In fact, it has recently been shown that treatments such as anastrozole, an anti-estrogen therapy, continue to work for years after treatment is completed, which is all the more reason women should take their therapy as prescribed."

According to Dr. Dent's research, the most common reason women stop their anti-estrogen therapy is muscle aches and bone pain. But she maintains that an open and ongoing dialogue between the patient and medical oncologist can go a long way towards overcoming side effects, helping women stay on treatment, and minimizing the risk of recurrence.

To learn more, speak to your physician or visit sites such as www.sharingstrength.ca.